All About Pocket Knives

Antique Jigged Bone Jack Knife No. 264 – Worn Tang Mark – Possible Northfield / Maher & Grosh Association

Offered here is an antique two-blade jack pocket knife that appears to be marked Northfield Knife Co., with the pattern number 264 visible on the tang. The tang stamp is worn and partially obscured, but the visible lettering and pattern number appear consistent with Northfield. This is an old American-made slipjoint with jigged bone handles, nickel silver bolsters, brass liners, federal-style shield, and two carbon steel blades.

Northfield Knife Co. was one of the early American cutlery makers, based in Northfield, Connecticut. This knife has the look and construction of an early/vintage working pocketknife rather than a modern reproduction.

Condition Details:
My goal is to describe each knife honestly and conservatively, without overstating age, rarity, originality, or condition. When I am unsure about a detail, I try to say so plainly rather than present a guess as fact.

Used antique/vintage condition. Both blades show scratches, sharpening wear, patina, staining, and scattered corrosion/pitting. The main blade has a long pull and visible tang stamp wear. The secondary blade also shows age and surface wear. The jigged bone handles have attractive color and age-darkening, with normal handling wear. Bolsters show tarnish, small dings, scratches, and age wear. Brass liners and interior channels show oxidation/verdigris from age. Shield is present. Please study the photos closely for blade wear, handle condition, bolster wear, tang stamp visibility, and overall condition.

I understand that buying vintage knives online can be difficult because photos and descriptions do not always tell the full story. I put time into photographing and describing each knife as accurately and conservatively as I can, including flaws or uncertainty. My goal is for the buyer to know what they are getting before it arrives, not to be surprised afterward.

Miller Bro's wrote: ↑Fri May 22, 2026 11:07 pm Unreal

Sellers Description

Antique Jigged Bone Jack Knife No. 264 – Worn Tang Mark – Possible Northfield / Maher & Grosh Association

Offered here is an antique two-blade jack pocket knife that appears to be marked Northfield Knife Co., with the pattern number 264 visible on the tang. The tang stamp is worn and partially obscured, but the visible lettering and pattern number appear consistent with Northfield. This is an old American-made slipjoint with jigged bone handles, nickel silver bolsters, brass liners, federal-style shield, and two carbon steel blades.

Northfield Knife Co. was one of the early American cutlery makers, based in Northfield, Connecticut. This knife has the look and construction of an early/vintage working pocketknife rather than a modern reproduction.

Condition Details:
My goal is to describe each knife honestly and conservatively, without overstating age, rarity, originality, or condition. When I am unsure about a detail, I try to say so plainly rather than present a guess as fact.

Used antique/vintage condition. Both blades show scratches, sharpening wear, patina, staining, and scattered corrosion/pitting. The main blade has a long pull and visible tang stamp wear. The secondary blade also shows age and surface wear. The jigged bone handles have attractive color and age-darkening, with normal handling wear. Bolsters show tarnish, small dings, scratches, and age wear. Brass liners and interior channels show oxidation/verdigris from age. Shield is present. Please study the photos closely for blade wear, handle condition, bolster wear, tang stamp visibility, and overall condition.

I understand that buying vintage knives online can be difficult because photos and descriptions do not always tell the full story. I put time into photographing and describing each knife as accurately and conservatively as I can, including flaws or uncertainty. My goal is for the buyer to know what they are getting before it arrives, not to be surprised afterward.

TDfuture wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2026 12:29 pm Gentlemen,

I read through the replies to my question about the M.O.R. tang mark. I came here because I’m new to the hobby and new to AAPK, and I was hoping to learn from people with more experience than I have.

My question was genuine. I was not trying to deceive anyone or misrepresent the knife. I have never been 100% comfortable with the Northfield identification, which is why I asked the question in the first place.

Based on the feedback here, I agree the eBay listing needed to come down until I can get a better and more accurate identification. I have removed the listing.

For those who offered useful information and tried to help answer the actual question, thank you. That is exactly the kind of knowledge I joined AAPK to learn from.

I will also say, respectfully, that some of the comments felt unnecessarily personal and demeaning. A factual correction or even a private message would have accomplished the same thing without turning it into a pile-on. I am willing to own a mistake and learn from it, but I would appreciate the same basic courtesy I would try to extend to someone else.

At this point, I would still appreciate any serious help identifying the knife and understanding the M.O.R. mark.

Doug

TDfuture wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2026 12:29 pm Gentlemen,

I read through the replies to my question about the M.O.R. tang mark. I came here because I’m new to the hobby and new to AAPK, and I was hoping to learn from people with more experience than I have.

My question was genuine. I was not trying to deceive anyone or misrepresent the knife. I have never been 100% comfortable with the Northfield identification, which is why I asked the question in the first place.

Based on the feedback here, I agree the eBay listing needed to come down until I can get a better and more accurate identification. I have removed the listing.

For those who offered useful information and tried to help answer the actual question, thank you. That is exactly the kind of knowledge I joined AAPK to learn from.

I will also say, respectfully, that some of the comments felt unnecessarily personal and demeaning. A factual correction or even a private message would have accomplished the same thing without turning it into a pile-on. I am willing to own a mistake and learn from it, but I would appreciate the same basic courtesy I would try to extend to someone else.

At this point, I would still appreciate any serious help identifying the knife and understanding the M.O.R. mark.

Doug

TDfuture wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2026 12:29 pm I’m new to the hobby...I was not trying to deceive anyone or misrepresent the knife. I have never been 100% comfortable with the Northfield identification...I am willing to own a mistake and learn from it

Paladin wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2026 1:24 pm

TDfuture wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2026 12:29 pm Gentlemen,

I read through the replies to my question about the M.O.R. tang mark. I came here because I’m new to the hobby and new to AAPK, and I was hoping to learn from people with more experience than I have.

My question was genuine. I was not trying to deceive anyone or misrepresent the knife. I have never been 100% comfortable with the Northfield identification, which is why I asked the question in the first place.

Based on the feedback here, I agree the eBay listing needed to come down until I can get a better and more accurate identification. I have removed the listing.

For those who offered useful information and tried to help answer the actual question, thank you. That is exactly the kind of knowledge I joined AAPK to learn from.

I will also say, respectfully, that some of the comments felt unnecessarily personal and demeaning. A factual correction or even a private message would have accomplished the same thing without turning it into a pile-on. I am willing to own a mistake and learn from it, but I would appreciate the same basic courtesy I would try to extend to someone else.

At this point, I would still appreciate any serious help identifying the knife and understanding the M.O.R. mark.

Doug

Doug,
Since I was one of those who "piled on" I'd like to ask one important question: Was the listing placed on eBay before or after your original posting here (May 22, 2026 9:26 am)?

Ray

QTCut5 wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2026 4:49 pm

TDfuture wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2026 12:29 pm I’m new to the hobby...I was not trying to deceive anyone or misrepresent the knife. I have never been 100% comfortable with the Northfield identification...I am willing to own a mistake and learn from it

Doug,

Here is what I found deceptive and misleading:

In your eBay description you mention "Northfield" five times:

"Possible Northfield", "appears to be marked Northfield Knife Co", "the visible lettering and pattern number appear consistent with Northfield", "Northfield Knife Co. was one of the early American cutlery makers, based in Northfield, Connecticut

By your own admission you are new to the hobby and you were never 100% comfortable with the Northfield identification, yet you still managed to slip the word "Northfield" into your description FIVE times. In marketing, this is called "planting a seed" or "leading by the nose down a primrose path". In other words, you manufactured an association to Northfield with absolutely zero evidence and then removed your responsibility by using the words "appears" and "possible". This is nothing more than an attempt to make a potential buyer think the knife is a Northfield without you actually claiming it is. It would have been more honest of you simply to say, "I do not know who made this knife" instead of guessing at the maker, which you claim in the description is something you do not do, "When I am unsure about a detail, I try to say so plainly rather than present a guess..."

Furthermore, since you don't know who made the knife or where it was made, you can't honestly claim "This is an old American-made slipjoint..."

Lastly, as I stated earlier, a good description of a used or vintage folding knife should always include the closed length and an assessment of the blade action and lockup, aka, walk and talk and blade wobble.

If you sincerely want to "own a mistake and learn from it", then I hope this helps you see where you could improve.

TDfuture wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2026 5:04 pm

Paladin wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2026 1:24 pm

TDfuture wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2026 12:29 pm Gentlemen,

I read through the replies to my question about the M.O.R. tang mark. I came here because I’m new to the hobby and new to AAPK, and I was hoping to learn from people with more experience than I have.

My question was genuine. I was not trying to deceive anyone or misrepresent the knife. I have never been 100% comfortable with the Northfield identification, which is why I asked the question in the first place.

Based on the feedback here, I agree the eBay listing needed to come down until I can get a better and more accurate identification. I have removed the listing.

For those who offered useful information and tried to help answer the actual question, thank you. That is exactly the kind of knowledge I joined AAPK to learn from.

I will also say, respectfully, that some of the comments felt unnecessarily personal and demeaning. A factual correction or even a private message would have accomplished the same thing without turning it into a pile-on. I am willing to own a mistake and learn from it, but I would appreciate the same basic courtesy I would try to extend to someone else.

At this point, I would still appreciate any serious help identifying the knife and understanding the M.O.R. mark.

Doug

Doug,
Since I was one of those who "piled on" I'd like to ask one important question: Was the listing placed on eBay before or after your original posting here (May 22, 2026 9:26 am)?

Ray

It was posted before based on some bad advice. I had someone on eBay say it wasn't Northfield, it was something else. If I recall, I think they said Maher & Grosh so something like that. That's when I posted my question on AAPK.

Paladin wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2026 5:51 pm

TDfuture wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2026 5:04 pm

Paladin wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2026 1:24 pm

Doug,
Since I was one of those who "piled on" I'd like to ask one important question: Was the listing placed on eBay before or after your original posting here (May 22, 2026 9:26 am)?

Ray

It was posted before based on some bad advice. I had someone on eBay say it wasn't Northfield, it was something else. If I recall, I think they said Maher & Grosh so something like that. That's when I posted my question on AAPK.

Since it was posted on eBay prior to posting here on AAPK, I withdraw my criticism. Nothing wrong with making an error. Lord knows, I have certainly made my share.

Ray